CHANDIGARH/MOHALI: Initiated with the sole aim of ensuring women’s safety, the ‘Saanjh’ Rahat Kendras of the Punjab Police have emerged as a strong community policing model, providing integrated support, counselling, crisis intervention, and rehabilitation services to women in distress.
Started with only two trained counsellors deployed at the Saanjh Rahat Kendra in Mohali, the initiative has now expanded to Civil Hospitals in Fatehgarh Sahib, Ludhiana, and Jalandhar, building on the Mohali experience. These Kendras have registered nearly 1,069 cases and screened 1,656 cases over the last two years.
On this, Punjab Police DGP Gaurav Yadav stated, “At present, there are four Saanjh Rahat Kendras located in SAS Nagar, Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib, and Jalandhar, helping women in distress overcome their trauma and lead normal lives. Such initiatives reflect the Punjab Police’s commitment to women’s safety by ensuring proactive intervention at an early stage so that violence against women is prevented.”
The Punjab Police DGP stated, “Over the past two years, the Saanjh Rahat Kendras have helped women in distress obtain relief through counselling, shelter, as well as legal and police assistance. One case from Mohali illustrates the impact of the initiative. A woman approached the Saanjh Rahat Kendra after her husband physically assaulted her and threatened to have her killed. The Saanjh Rahat Kendra team in SAS Nagar responded promptly, ensured her safety, arranged secure transportation, escorted her to her parental home, and initiated legal action against her husband.”
“In another case, a pregnant woman abandoned by her husband and family was admitted to hospital in critical condition. The Saanjh Rahat Kendra team counselled her and facilitated her admission to PGI, where she remained under medical care for nearly two months. During her treatment, she suffered a miscarriage. Throughout this difficult period, the team provided continuous emotional support and counselling, helping her cope with the loss. After her recovery, the team also assisted her in securing employment and worked towards reconnecting her with her family, enabling her to rebuild her life with dignity and stability,” said DGP Gaurav Yadav.
Apart from the Saanjh Rahat Kendras, several other initiatives demonstrate the Punjab Police’s commitment to the welfare and safety of women. Under the Jagriti Programme, Punjab Police Mahila Mittars reached out to 12,482 schools and sensitised a total of 11,75,010 children in the 6–12 age group over the last nearly two years. As many as 76,299 principals, teachers, staff members, and other employees were also sensitised during this period.
Under the Women Help Desks initiative, as many as 69,329 outreach activities on cybercrime, domestic violence, child sexual abuse, the Child Marriage Act, the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, drug abuse, and gender sensitisation were organised over the last five years.
“Since its inception in 2011, the SAANJH ecosystem has played a vital role in maintaining a strong citizen connect and promoting initiatives such as Yuva Saanjh, Jagriti, and the Student Police Cadet Scheme through a robust network of Saanjh Committees across the state,” said Gurpreet Kaur Deo, Special Director General of Police, Community Affairs Division.
“The Saanjh Rahat Kendra is a unique intervention that provides counselling, police assistance, and legal support to women in need, thereby addressing a critical gap,” she added.
